Helen Kanes Personal Quote -->

I just put it in at one of the rehearsals, a sort of interlude. It's hard to explain -- I haven't explained it to myself yet. It's like vo-de-o-do, Crosby with boo-boo-boo, and Durante with cha-cha-cha." -- Helen Kane, explaining the creation of her "boop-boop-a-doop" signature phrase.

Other Quotes -->

"I thought you might like to know that her first introduction to “show business” was when her older sister, Gertrude took her to a talent show. [Gertrude] had entered the contest and while she was on the side waiting, Aunt Helen was also asked to perform - because she was so cute and the management wanted her on stage. It was at this time, she said, she was inspired and added the famous 'boop boop a doop' into her song. According to her, the audience went wild and she won the contest - beating out her own sister." -Melody, Gertrude's daughter and Helen's niece

"In our neighborhood in the Bronx, Aunt Helen would sit on the stoop and sing for everyone. Neither her nor Uncle Dan drove, so we would pick them up in Jackson Heights and sing all the way." -Mickey, Helen's niece

"I had a song sheet of Helen Kane and the spit curls came from her. So I just designed a little dog and put cute feminine legs on her and the earrings which developed later started out as long ears. I suppose I used a French poodle for the basic idea of the character." -Grim Natwick, creator of Betty Boop and Snow White, on his inspiration for creating Betty Boop.

"(Mae Questal) was only 17 when she won a contest to find a look-alike for Helen Kane, a singer then known as the boop-oop-a-doop queen. Questel imitated the singer in vaudeville shows...Her stage work won her a contract to take over the cartoon voice of Betty Boop.



With the hardships of the Great Depression biting, the flamboyant world of the flapper was over, and Kane's style began to date rapidly. After 1931 she lost the favour of the movie makers, who chose other singers for their films.
She appeared in a stage production called Shady Lady in 1933, and made appearances at various nightclubs and theatres & Radios during the 1930s

she was given overdue tribute in the early 1950s.

In 1928 or most likely the early 20's Helen Kane saw Baby Esther's act in the Cotton Club in Harlem, and most likely "definitely" took her style, as you know African American have received credit for various inventions and patent ideas in America, if not most, cases, inventions and patent ideas were systematically stolen from them by those who enslaved and otherwise oppressed them from the 17th to mid-20th centuries and thereabouts. In fact, there were laws during a significant part of that period that barred their ancestors from filing lawsuits or testifying in court when they wanted to prove that their inventions and patent ideas had been stolen. Although Esther was originator of the Boop-da-Boop style, the character Betty Boop was a caricature of Kane, as Esther was unknown, but now is known world-wide.

Baby Esther - Source's link that "Baby Esther" might have been her stage name, and that her real name might have been Gertrude Saunders "Also to note there is another Gertrude Saunders" who is was an actress and singer, and one who debuted in "Broadway" in 1934, as she admitted that she fought in court against Helen Kane and Betty Boop, as she was originator of the Boop style of singing.

Baby Esther's second name was not Jones, the second name Jones was the real second name of Esther Phillips, who started out her career as "Little Esther" and has been mistaken for "Baby Esther".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Phillips

To be 100 percent sure, Baby Esther who was deemed Dead/Deceased, Well Esther's manager testified in court and said that Helen did see Baby's show in 1928.

Also to confirm this, listen to Helen's first two recordings.

"Get Out and Under The Moon" and "That's My Weakness Now" which were recorded in 1927, Helen hadn't quite got the "Boop" she is saying Boo and Doo's and Wha-Da-Da's... and later adapted it to "Poop" and or "Boop". Meaning Esther must have influenced Kane, in which Kane ended up swiping her style and became as everyone knows "Famous Overnight".

But more to the story is that... Helen's whole image was based on the "Baby Doll" phase and Helen was way into her late 20's, 28 years old to be preciece.


Could have Helen taken being a "BABY" doll too literally?

http://fanpix.famousfix.com/picture-gallery/helen-kane-picture-11801042.htm

BETTY BOOP - Origin

Ms. ESTHER JONES, known by her stage name, "Baby Esther," was an " African-American singer and entertainer of the late 1920s. She performed regularly at the (The Cotton Club) in Harlem.

Singer Helen Kane saw her act in 1928 and (COPIED or stole ). Ms Jones' 'baby' Singing Style! > for a recording of "I Wanna Be Loved By You."

Ms. Jones' singing style went on to become the inspiration for (( Max Fleischer )) cartoon character's Voice and SINGING style of BETTY BOOP, was YES a Black Woman.

Her singing trademark Was.. "boop oop a doop ".. In a baby voice at the cotton club in Harlem. -
Esther Jones who's stage name was "Baby Esther" was a popular entertainer at Harlem's Cotton Club in the late 1920s. Baby Esther interpolated words such as 'Boo-Boo-Boo' & 'Doo-Doo-Doo' in songs at a cabaret.
Helen Kane SAW Baby's act in 1928 and (stole) Used it in her hit song I Wanna Be Loved By You.

An early test sound film was also discovered, which featured Baby Esther performing in this style, disproving Kane's claims. Baby Esther's manager also testified that Helen Kane had saw Baby Esther's cabaret act in 1928.

Supreme Court Judge Edward J. McGoldrick ruled: "The plaintiff has failed to sustain either cause of action by proof of sufficient probative force". In his opinion, the "baby" technique of singing did not originate with Kane.

$250,000 infringement lawsuit

Esther's manager also testified that , Helen Kane & her manager , saw Baby's act somewhere between 1928-1929.
Scholar Robert G.O' Meally said, Betty Boop The WHITE CARTOON herself had, as it were, a BLACK grandmother in her backround.

Baby Esther was presumed dead by 1934, just when the lawsuit had ended.

@Learn your History or they will Hide it from you.
@BLACK-American MUSIC and DANCE Styles. - Influential WorldWide "